Following the summons of the “First Secretary” and others of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the “cherry blossom appreciation” incident
The latest news from many Japanese media said on the 24th that the special search department of the Tokyo District Prosecutor’s Office said that Abe is likely to misappropriate more than 8 million yen (90k USD) is used to entertain voters at dinner parties.
In response on the same day, Abe said that he would fully cooperate with the search, but could not give more reply at this stage.
“Yomiuri News: [Exclusive] Abe fills more than 8 million yen in 5 years?” The hotel provided an invoice to “fill the difference” at the eve of the cherry blossom appreciation party.
According to a report by Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun on the 24th, from 2013 to 2019, Abe’s government will hold a large-scale banquet called the “Eve Eve Festival” on the eve of the “Cherry Blossom Appreciation”. The Eve Festival was hosted by a political group called Shinzo Abe Support Association, which was represented by the First Secretary of Abe at that time.
According to the report, after investigation, it was found that the hotel hosting the “Eve Festival” has received a total of about 23 million yen (about 300k USD) in five years, but the total membership fee charged to participants is only 14 million yen (about 120K USD). Therefore, the Ministry of Special Search believes that Abe is likely to “fill” the “difference” of more than 8 million yen (90k USD).
Sources also reportedly quoted the hotel as saying that after receiving the “difference” paid separately by Abe, they made an invoice to the Abe team. Yomiuri Shimbun said that at present, the special search department has also found the existence of the invoice.
According to the report, the incident triggered strong protests from the opposition party, and Japanese civic groups and other organizations also submitted a report letter to the Special Search Department on the grounds that Abe violated the “Political Funding Regulation Law” and the “Public Election Law”.
According to a report by Japan’s Asahi TV station, at about 1:00 p.m. on the 24th, Abe responded to reporters in Congress that he had learned about the matter and would fully cooperate with the prosecution in the search.
During this period, some reporters questioned Abe’s statement and his previous interpretation in the congressional defense. Abe responded: “I don’t think I have failed to fulfill my duty to explain well.
I have defended in Congress, but now I have been charged again. Abe’s office will cooperate fully on this matter. But since there is no result yet, allow me not to respond more.”
Japan’s newsletter quoted sources on the 23rd as saying that the special search department of the Tokyo District Prosecutor’s Office has summoned the first secretary of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and others to inquire about the large-scale dinner held on the eve of the “cherry blossom appreciation party”.
The newsletter said that the Tokyo Land Inspection Special Search Department is carefully discussing whether to file a case. According to the report, if this fact is true, Shinzo Abe will be suspected of violating Japan’s electoral law and committing “bribery”.
This news triggered a heated discussion among Japanese netizens, and the topic of “Arrest Abe” appeared on the social media hot search list on the 23rd.
